Agriculture

The other evening I was sitting outside under a tree babysitting our hens. We have only been letting them out in the evening under supervision until we can get a handle on some fox problems (we are working on it).

As I sat and read, a sense of calm came over me, and I was surprised to realize that it was triggered by a little flock of nasty starlings.

Starlings start to flock up this time of the year, and I guess there was just some sort of Pavlovian response that said, yes, fall is just around the corner. The starlings say so.

Kentucky Farm Bureau is using National Farm Safety Week next week as a time to remind motorists that farmers are harvesting their crops and thus more often on the roads, moving equipment from one field to another.

Gallrein Farms will open its annual fall season by hosting its third annual “Family Fun Fundraiser” at 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 21.

Three years ago, Randie Gallrein came up with the idea to try to help a couple of organizations that were in need, and the event has grown to five different organizations: Operation Care, Mentor Shelby Kids, ALC Pregnancy Resource Center, Shelby County Backpack Project and the Open Door of Hope men’s shelter.

Summertime is the time when crabgrass rears its ugly head and begins to creep through our fescue lawns, sneak into our cultivated beds and, when we’re not looking, reseeds itself to ensure the continuation of the species.

Does it sound daunting? Well, I wouldn’t look at it that way entirely. Let’s just say it is a challenge to keep it under control.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s office in Shelbyville is reminding agricultural producers that today is the deadline to obtain crop year 2014 NAP coverage for crops such as wheat for forage and barley for forage.

For an early introduction to the agricultural industry, you would have to be very carefully to beat participating in 4-H and competing at the annual Kentucky State Fair.

After all, developing animals and products is a consistent and educational practice in itself. When you add doing so competitively – at fairs and shows – the “hobby” can become time-consuming and require an investment of money as well.

This time of the year I am on the lookout for a variety of masterfully camouflaged stinging caterpillars.

The first time I saw one it sort of turned into a game: I took Andy down to the Parrotia tree and said, “Can you find the caterpillar?” He never did because this caterpillar looked exactly like the scorched edge of a leaf that would be a result of a long hot summer.